Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle has expressed displeasure over the ‘no fly zone’ declared on his state by President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, the National Security Council did not consult him before pronouncing the no-fly zone order in the state.
The governor who spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today, which was monitored by our correspondent, however, said he accepted the order in the interest of security of the state.
“The decision of Mr President on the no-fly zone, I accept it and I agree with that…People don’t even know that Zamfara does not have an airport. So, the states that have airports and are encountering this kind of situation, what happens to them?” the governor asked.
Recall that the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd.), had on Tuesday said the President approved the declaration of Zamfara as a “no fly zone” as part of efforts to tackle the security challenges being witnessed in the state.
The governor also disputed the reports that bandits are getting arms supply via aircraft in the state.
“It is just misinformation and if anybody has that proof, he should prove it beyond reasonable doubt.
“I am a parliamentarian. I was in the House of Reps for almost 12 years, I know what happened during (the) Obasanjo (era) when he declared a state of emergency in Plateau State which was challenged and the Supreme Court reversed it.
“The emergency rule means that they shall put more security in the area so that they can flush out all the criminals.
“If the National Security Adviser thinks that he can do something about it, let all the states, all the northern states that are affected (by banditry) be put on emergency, All the governors will welcome that because all we need is how these bad elements can be flushed out,” he said.